JP2002283590A - Ink jet recorder and method of handling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure image quality at the time of first recording by a method wherein an ink for distribution is surely replaced to a recording ink at arrival of it and the ink for distribution in a recovery system is also removed as much as possible, in an ink jet recorder which is to b shipped in a condition that an ink jet head filled with the distribution ink is loaded therein. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder is to be shipped in a condition that the ink jet head filled with the ink for distribution is loaded therein. The setting of the recovery operation at the arrival time of the shipping is executed by a method wherein a sucking force of negative pressure, the suction quantity, the number of times of sucking, the number of times of idle sucking, or the number of times of cleaning by a wiper are greater than that in a regular recovery operation or the ink in the recording head is heated to reduce the viscosity of the ink.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a method of handling the same, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus which is shipped from a production factory with a recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink, and an ink jet recording apparatus. Regarding handling methods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device (printing device) used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor or a workstation is an image forming device. Based on the information (recorded information)
2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink toward a recording medium (recording paper or the like) such as paper, cloth, a plastic sheet, or an OHP sheet has become widespread.
In addition, there are various requirements for the material of the recording medium, and in recent years, developments for these requirements have been advanced, and paper (including thin paper and processed paper) which is a general recording medium has been developed.
Other than cloth and leather (OHP sheet etc.), cloth, leather,
An ink jet recording apparatus using a nonwoven fabric, a metal, or the like as a recording medium has also been used.

[0003] The ink jet recording apparatus has low noise,
It is widely applied to printers, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. from the viewpoints of low running cost, easy downsizing of the apparatus and easy colorization. An ejection port (usually a plurality) for ejecting ink droplets is formed on the front surface of an ink ejection head (ink jet recording head as recording means) of the ink jet recording apparatus. In recent years, the size of the discharge port has been getting smaller and smaller as the image quality has been improved.
An ink droplet is ejected from the ejection port based on an ejection signal processed in the apparatus based on droplet ejection information (recording data and the like) sent from the host machine, and an image is formed on a recording medium. (Including characters and symbols) are formed.

In the above-described ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from an ink jet recording head as recording means to a recording medium, recording is performed by discharging ink from fine discharge ports. In some cases, clogging occurs, and the quality of a printed image is degraded due to defective discharge (including non-discharge). Has been used. As the recovery means, for example, a capping mechanism for capping the discharge port of the recording head, or a pump connected to the capping mechanism in a capping state to operate a pump to generate a negative pressure inside the capping means to increase the viscosity from the discharge port Suction means for maintaining and recovering ink ejection performance by refreshing the ink in the ejection openings by sucking and discharging foreign matter such as ink and air bubbles, and wiping (wiping) foreign matter out of ink or the like attached to the ejection opening surface of the recording head. What is provided with a wiper (wiping means) for cleaning) is used.

On the other hand, in the ink jet recording apparatus, an ink tank containing ink for ink jet recording can be set independently of a recording head in consideration of the convenience and economy of the user of the apparatus, and the ink runs out. A so-called tank replacement method has been proposed in which only the ink tank is replaced when the ink tank is replaced. In addition, the recording head is conventionally
In order to allow a user of the apparatus to replace the recording head with a new one when a failure occurs in the recording head, the recording head can be easily detached from the recording apparatus main body.

However, the reliability of the recording head itself
According to the improvement of the durability, there is a form in which the recording head is set in the recording apparatus main body in advance and is shipped from a recording apparatus production factory. 2. Description of the Related Art A head is shipped with a configuration in which a head itself is tied to a recording apparatus. At this time, if the ink tank that can be attached to and detached from the print head is taken out of the production factory while being mounted on the ink jet print head, the device user will start using the device. The setup work at the time can be reduced, which is more preferable.

However, at this time, the ink jet recording head is transported from the time of shipment from the production factory to the user of the apparatus while the recording ink is always filled with the recording ink. During this transportation, the recording ink in the recording head is fixed to the recording head due to evaporation of water due to exposure to high temperature or damage due to thermal shock due to a so-called heat cycle from high to low temperature, or in the recording head. In some cases, a change in the state of the inner surface results in the inkjet recording head being unable to maintain good recording performance.

[0008] Therefore, the ink jet recording head is filled with the distribution ink therein and mounted on the main body of the apparatus. After doing
It has been considered to adopt a configuration in which the recording apparatus is included together with the recording apparatus in a packaging box of the entire apparatus. In this case, as distribution ink,
Compared to the recording ink, a component in which the component which is easily fixed in the recording ink is reduced as much as possible, and the one in which the water ratio is reduced and the solvent component is increased in order to suppress water evaporation is used. . By filling such a distribution ink into the inside, the inkjet recording head can be maintained in a state where good recording performance can be exhibited at any time during transportation and storage of the entire recording apparatus.

[0009]

However, even in such a recording apparatus using the ink for distribution, there is a problem that the recording performance becomes completely abnormal when the user first uses the apparatus. was there. The occurrence of such inconvenience is caused by a step of replacing the inside of the print head from the distribution ink with the recording ink by the recovery means in the recording apparatus when the apparatus user first uses the apparatus. This is because the replacement process is not performed smoothly. In other words, since the distribution ink has a high viscosity for the purpose of suppressing water evaporation, the flow of the ink at the time of suction is worse than that of the recording ink, and the distribution ink is replaced with the recording ink in the recording head. Even if the replacement is not performed smoothly or the replacement itself is performed smoothly, the residue of the distribution ink adhered to the recovery unit such as the wiping unit or the suction unit is transferred to the recording head side again and adhered. That is the cause.

The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to replace a distribution ink with a recording ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus. , The removal of the remaining distribution ink in the recovery means can be promoted, and the transfer of the remaining distribution ink to the recording head can be prevented, whereby the use of the recording apparatus can be started. In addition to saving the trouble of setting the print head at times, it is possible to avoid problems caused by a mistake in setting the print head. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be eliminated and a handling method thereof.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by ejecting recording ink, and a recording head for the recording head. Recovery means for performing a recovery operation, comprising an ink jet recording apparatus shipped from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage,
The arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit when the apparatus user uses the recording device for the first time is different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery unit after the first use of the recording device. .

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and a recovery mechanism for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. Means, comprising: an inkjet recording apparatus that is shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage; The arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit at the time of the first use is performed when the recording head is replaced among the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery unit after the first use. It is the same as the recovery mode.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for discharging and recording a recording ink, and a recording ink supplied to the recording head An ink jet recording apparatus which is shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the ink tank is mounted on the mounting portion, and detecting the first state of the recording apparatus by a user of the apparatus by the detecting means.
And a warning unit for issuing a warning to a user of the apparatus when it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting site during the second use.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and a recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. And a method of handling an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a step of shipping the ink jet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage. At the time of the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user, the arrival recovery mode different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery means after the first use is transmitted to the recording head by the recovery means. And a step of performing the operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. And a method of handling an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a step of shipping the ink jet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage. At the time of the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user, the same as the recovery mode performed when the recording head is replaced among the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery means after the first use. Causing the recording head to execute the arrival recovery mode by the recovery means.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head which performs recording by discharging recording ink, and a recording ink supplied to the recording head. And a mounting portion for mounting an ink tank for storing the ink tank, wherein the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage. At the time of shipping the inkjet recording apparatus from the production factory and during the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user, a warning is issued to the apparatus user if it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting site. And a step of emitting

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, through each drawing,
The same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink jet recording apparatus provided with the recovery means according to the present invention, partially cut away, and FIG. 2 shows the wiping means (recovery means) of the recovery system of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state before wiping of a wiping unit constituting a recovery unit of a recovery system of the inkjet recording apparatus (the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1) according to the present invention. is there.

1 to 3, an ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a driving motor M as a driving source, a carriage 2 on which an ink jet recording head 3 as recording means is mounted, and the carriage 2 reciprocatingly driven by the driving motor M. A transmission mechanism 4, a paper feed mechanism (paper feed mechanism) 5 for transporting (paper feed) a recording paper P as a recording medium, and a recording head 3
And a recovery system 10 for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection performance. The recovery system 10 includes one or a plurality of recovery units, for example, a wiping unit and a suction unit described later, or a wiping unit or a suction unit. The wiping unit is configured to wipe (wipe) the ejection opening surface of the recording head (recording unit) 3 with a wiper, and the suction unit suctions ink from the ejection opening of the recording head 3. The ink in the ejection port is refreshed. In such an ink jet recording apparatus 1, the recording paper P is fed by the paper feed roller 6 of the paper feed mechanism 5,
Above, predetermined recording is performed on the recording paper P by the recording head 3.

The recording head 3 can be mounted on the carriage 2, and an ink tank 9 can be mounted on the recording head 3. The recording head 3 is supplied with ink contained in the ink tank 9. In this case, the carriage 2 and the recording head 3 are configured such that the joining surfaces of the two members are appropriately brought into contact with each other so that required electrical connection can be achieved and maintained. Therefore, a storage unit 101 for storing information such as an elapsed time of the recording apparatus 1 or the recording head 3 (e.g., an elapsed time from shipment from a production factory) and a temperature history is provided inside the inkjet recording apparatus 1. It is configured to be able to read the detection value of the temperature detection means 102 such as a temperature thermistor, and store, call, and rewrite the count value of the time counting means 103.

At the time of shipment of the inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory, the recording head 3 is already mounted on the carriage 2 and the inside of the recording head 3 as recording means is filled with distribution ink. ing. The ink tank 9 is not mounted on the recording head 3, but is separately packaged, and is packaged together with the inkjet recording apparatus in a predetermined product packaging box.

The recording head 3 is a recording means (inkjet recording head) for selectively discharging ink from a plurality of discharge ports for recording by applying energy according to a recording signal. The recording head 3 is an ink jet recording means for discharging ink by using thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for discharging ink for generating thermal energy. further,
The recording head 3 performs recording by causing ink to be ejected from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change based on growth and shrinkage of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. The electrothermal transducer for discharging the ink is provided corresponding to each of the discharge ports,
By applying a pulse voltage to a corresponding electrothermal transducer according to a recording signal, ink is ejected from a corresponding ejection port.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection section (one ejection port array) of the recording head 3. In FIG. 18, a plurality of discharge ports at a predetermined pitch are provided on a discharge port surface 13 facing a recording medium (recording paper or the like) P with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.3 to 2.0 mm). An outlet 82 is formed, and an ink-discharging electrothermal converter (heating resistor) for generating ink-discharging energy along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 that communicates the common liquid chamber 83 and each discharge port 82. 85) are provided. In the recording head 3, the ejection port 82 is moved in the main scanning movement direction (the carriage 2).
(In this embodiment, the carriage 2 is moved in the moving direction.)
The guides are supported in a positional relationship such that they are arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction.

In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (pulse voltage is applied) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 84 to boil, and the pressure generated at that time causes the ejection port to discharge. A recording head 3 that ejects ink droplets from 82 is configured. In the common liquid chamber 83 provided in the recording head 3, an electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor or the like) 86 for keeping the ink warm is provided. The body 86 is driven (pulse voltage is applied) in accordance with the external temperature environment around the printing apparatus, and is configured to maintain the ink discharge performance and the ink discharge stability by keeping the ink warm.

FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a recording head (inkjet head) 3 used in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 19, the recording head 3 includes a resin molded part 402, a spring member 405, a wiring board 406, a discharge port array 407, and the like. The ejection port array 47 includes an array of a plurality (predetermined number) of ejection ports 82. In a printing apparatus that performs recording using a plurality of different inks, ejection port arrays corresponding to the number of ink types are provided. Further, inside the recording head 3, a storage unit 408 (not shown) for storing information such as an elapsed time of the recording head 3 (for example, an elapsed time from shipment from a production factory) and a temperature history is provided. It can read a detection value of a temperature detection unit 409 (not shown) such as a temperature thermistor provided in the recording head 3 and store, call, and rewrite the count value of the time counting unit 103. It is configured as follows.

In FIG. 19, the discharge port array 47 is provided in the resin molding section 402, and has a silicon substrate (non-electrothermal converter) 85 having an energy generating element (electrothermal converter) 85 wired with the wiring substrate 406. (Shown) is mechanically pressed (pressed) by the spring member 405,
The discharge port 82 forming portion and the electrothermal transducer 85 are accurately positioned and closely contacted with each other. Also, airtightness is ensured by applying an adhesive to a gap between the discharge port forming portion and the electrothermal transducer. The discharge port array 407 of the resin molding section 402
The resin in the vicinity is subjected to a water-repellent treatment, so that a factor that deteriorates ink ejection such as unnecessary ink and dust is prevented from approaching the ejection port array 407. Also,
A hydrophilic portion is provided at a position appropriately distant from the ejection port array 407 so as to trap unnecessary substances such as ink remaining on the ejection port face 81.

Further, by connecting the contact pads provided on the wiring board 406 and the electric contacts provided on the carriage, an electric signal (recording data or the like) synchronized with the scanning of the recording head 3 is transmitted to the recording head. The desired image is formed (recorded) by discharging the ink from the discharge port 82 based on the applied electric signal. In the above, the case where the recording head 3 as a recording unit is of a thermal type and is an ink jet head using the resin 402 and the spring 405 has been described as an example. In the case of an ink jet head of the type used, or an ink jet head forming an ejection port by a photolithography process, the present invention is similarly effective in all types of ink jet recording heads, and has the same effect.

In FIG. 1, a carriage 2 is connected to a part of a drive belt 11 of a transmission mechanism 4 for transmitting a driving force of a drive motor M, and is provided with two (or a single one) provided in parallel with each other. It is slidably guided in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 12 and is mounted so as to be driven by the drive motor M. Accordingly, the carriage 2 reciprocates along the guide shaft 12 by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor M. In the illustrated inkjet recording apparatus 1, the recording head 3
A platen 7 is provided so as to face the discharge port surface 13 where the discharge ports are formed. The carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted is reciprocated by the driving force of the driving motor M. By supplying a recording signal and ejecting ink, recording is performed over the entire width of the recording paper P as a recording medium conveyed on the platen 7.

Further, in such an ink jet recording apparatus 1, a desired position (for example, a position corresponding to the home position) outside the range of reciprocation (outside the recording area) for the recording operation of the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted. )
A recovery system (recovery means) 10 for recovering a discharge failure of the recording head 3 and maintaining the discharge performance is provided. In the present embodiment, such a recovery system 10 includes two recovery units, a wiping unit (recovery unit) and a suction unit (recovery unit), which will be described later.

The suction means is provided with a cap (cap member) for capping the discharge port face 13 of the recording head 3, and is linked with the capping of the discharge port face 13 by the cap. The ink is forcibly discharged from the discharge port by a pump or the like, thereby performing a discharge recovery process such as removing thickened ink, bubbles, and the like in the ink flow path of the recording head 3. Note that by capping the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 during non-recording or the like, the recording head can be protected and the ink can be prevented from drying. Further, the wiping means is configured to wipe off the ink adhered to the discharge port surface by wiping the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 with other foreign substances.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the wiping means as the recovery means constituting the recovery system 10 includes a blade 14 as a wiper for wiping (wiping and cleaning) the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 and a blade 14. The blade holder 15 is supported and movable along a guide portion 19 (FIG. 3), and an operating mechanism 16 for reciprocating the blade holder 15 is provided. Discharge port surface 1 of recording head 3
A wiper (blade) 14 for wiping 3 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and is held at one end of a blade holder 15 as shown in the figure. The wiper 14 constitutes wiping means as recovery means of the recovery system 10 and is connected to a motor as a drive source of the recovery system 10 by a transmission mechanism (drive mechanism).
By pressing and sliding the wiper 14 against the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3, foreign matter such as ink attached to the discharge port surface is removed (wiping, cleaning, wiping). In the present embodiment, a suction unit (described later) as another recovery unit constituting the recovery system 10 is also configured to be driven by a common drive source (motor) as the wiping unit.

That is, after recording by the recording head 3,
With the recording head 3 located at the home position, the wiping means of the recovery system 10 is driven to slide the wiper 14 against the ejection port surface 13 (wiping), so that ink or the like on the ejection port surface is removed. Adhesion, dew condensation, wetting, or dust such as paper dust can be wiped off and the wiping process can be performed, whereby the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 can be cleaned.

1 to 3, the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted reciprocates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. The wiping means forming a part of the recovery system 10 includes a recording head 3 on the carriage 2.
In order to wipe the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3, the recording port 3 is disposed near the home position. The wiping means as the recovery means of the recovery system 10 in the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes a wiper (blade) 14 and a base 1 supporting the wiper 14 at one end.
8, a blade holder 15 that can reciprocate in the direction of arrow T (front-back direction) along the guide portion 19, an operating mechanism 16 that reciprocates the blade holder 15, and a rotatable blade that performs cleaning on the wiper (blade) 14. A cleaner (blade cleaner) 17.

The blade (wiper) 14 is mounted on a blade holder 15, and the blade holder 15 is provided on a guide portion 1 of a base 18 for supporting various components.
9 along the left and right direction in FIG. 3 (reciprocating movement)
You are being guided. The illustrated blade 14 has a U-shaped cross section, and wipes the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 with the tip divided into two pieces. However, the form of the blade 14 is not limited to this, and may be one, or three or more depending on the form and performance of the recording head 3. In addition, other than the U-shape, for example, a plurality of blades 14 may be arranged at regular intervals. The blade 14 is made of, for example, a rubber-like elastic material such as synthetic rubber or silicon rubber, or a plastic material having a required elasticity. The blade holder 15 has a flat rectangular plate shape and is provided with two openings. ) 14 is mounted, and is reciprocated in the direction of arrow T by the operating mechanism 16 along the guide portion 19 of the base 18.

FIG. 3 shows a drive mechanism of the wiping means of the recovery system 10. In FIG. 3, an operating mechanism 16 for reciprocatingly driving the blade holder 15 is pivotally supported on a base 18 by a pivot 23. A gear mechanism 21 for transmitting pivotal power to the blade arm 20 from a blade arm 20 having one end connected to the blade holder 15 and a drive gear 22 driven by a drive motor (not shown).
And The connection of the blade arm 20 to the blade holder 15 is performed by using the long groove 2 of the blade holder 15.
4 and engagement with a pin 25 provided at the tip of the blade arm 20.

The driving force of the driving motor is
The gear mechanism 21 includes a drive gear 22 driven by a motor (not shown), and a driven gear 27 that pivots the blade arm 20. The driven gear 27
A forward movement gear member 28 for moving the blade holder 15 forward and a reciprocating gear member 29 for reciprocating the blade holder 15 are integrally attached to a pivot 23 pivotally supporting the blade arm 20. ing. The drive gear 22 driven by the drive motor drives the gear member 30 meshing with the forward movement gear member 28 and the backward movement gear member 29 in reverse, corresponding to the gear members 28 and 29 of the driven gear 27, respectively. A gear member 31 meshed (gear-coupled) with the return gear member 29 via an idle gear 32; An optical sensor 54 is fixed to the base 18, and the optical sensor 54 is turned on / off by the action of a light shielding unit 55 accompanying rotation of the drive gear 22.

Further, the gear members 28 and 29 on the blade arm 20 side and the gear members 30 and 31 on the drive gear 22 side
Gear teeth are formed only where necessary so that the driving force is transmitted to the blade arm 20 only when necessary. Then, by rotating the drive gear 22 in one direction, the blade arm 20 is reciprocally rotated, and the blade holder 15 and the wiper blade 14 are reciprocally moved in parallel via the long groove 24 and the pin 25. With such a driving mechanism, the blade holder 15 and the wiper (blade) 14 can be moved forward and backward by appropriately selecting the driving frequency of the driving motor only by rotating the driving motor and the driving gear 22 in one direction. It can be moved at any speed when moving.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, a cleaner (blade cleaner) 17 for wiping and cleaning ink adhered to a wiper (blade) 14 is rotatably supported by a base 18. Cleaner 17
The cross section has a substantially rectangular shape, and a shaft portion 33 is provided at both ends. The cleaner 17 is rotatably mounted by fitting the shaft portions 33 to the bearing portions 34 on both sides of the base 18, respectively. On the other hand, the base 18 is provided with a stopper 35 for allowing the cleaner 17 to freely rotate in one direction but not to rotate in the other direction. The stopper 35 prevents the cleaner 17 from rotating further (clockwise rotation about the shaft 33 in FIG. 3) by abutting against the abutting portion 37 of the cleaner 17. .

FIG. 8A is a schematic perspective view showing a state when the cleaner 17 is operated, and FIG. 8B is a view showing a state of a central portion when the cleaner 17 is turned to the inoperative position. It is a typical perspective view shown. 2 and 8, a notch 36 is provided at the center of a cleaner (blade cleaner) 17 for cleaning the wiper 14, and a column 38 from the base 18 extends.
The support 38 contacts the vicinity of the center of rotation of the cleaner 17 from above, thereby supporting the center of the elongated cleaner 17 so that the rotation load is reduced. For this reason, the contact portion 39 of the column 38 at the center of the cleaner 17 is formed in a tapered shape like a rib.

A spring 40 is provided to bias the cleaner 17 so as to hit the stopper 35. This spring 40 is made of a close contact coil spring,
This is obtained by removing the spring-hung portions at both ends of a general contact coil tension spring. Such a spring 40 is placed on the upper side of the column 38 at the center of the cleaner 17, and both ends are inserted into the mounting portion 41 provided on the wall 42 of the cleaner 17. Both ends of the spring 40 are attached to mounting portions 41 provided on the wall 42 of the cleaner (blade cleaner) 17. The spring 40 does not move more than a predetermined play in the axial direction and the radial direction of the spring 40. The rotation of the spring is not restricted and can rotate somewhat.

Since the spring 40 is positioned above the center of rotation of the blade cleaner 17, when the cleaner 17 is rotated in the direction of arrow G as shown in FIG. 17 spring mounting portions 41
Are separated from each other, so that the peak of the spring 40 is raised, and the amount of deformation of the spring 40 is increased.
Reaction force increases. Further, the cleaner (blade cleaner) 17 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is provided with an eave-shaped partition 43 for preventing the ink from scattering upward, whereby the ink can be effectively and effectively dispersed. Can be prevented.

In FIG. 3, the upper end of the wiper (blade) 14 of the wiping means of the recovery system 10 is a predetermined amount (for example, about 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm) larger than the discharge port surface 13 of the recording apparatus 1 and the lower surface of the cleaner 17. It is raised and a predetermined amount of overlap margin (interference margin) is provided. Also, in order to rotate the cleaner 17 lightly, the bearing portion (34 in FIG. 2) has a slightly loose play (for example, about 0.05 mm).
(About 0.5 mm). FIG. 10 is a cam diagram, in which the horizontal axis indicates the cam angle, and the numerals indicate the edges 55a from which the flag 55 on the cam passes through the light.
Shows the cam angle with respect to.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a state where the wiping means (recovery means) of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied is wiping the discharge port surface 13 (during wiping operation). FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a state when the wiping unit of FIG. 4 has finished wiping the discharge port surface 13 (at the end of the wiping operation), and FIG. After wiping 13 is completed, wiper 14 is cleaned with cleaner 17.
When cleaning with (blade cleaning)
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the blade holder 15 returns (when the blade holder returns) after the wiping unit of FIG. 4 performs cleaning on the wiper 14. is there. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, wiping means (recovery means) of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
(In particular, the operation related to the wiper 14) will be described.

First, the wiper (blade) 14 is moved to the left in FIG. 3 from the state shown in FIG. 3 to wipe ink and dirt attached to the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 as shown in FIG. (Wiping) to clean the discharge port surface 13. That is, when the blade holder 15 moves forward in the direction of arrow T along the guide portion 19 of the base 18, the tip of the wiper 14 wipes (wipes) the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3. The ink, dirt, etc. attached to the surface 13 are removed and the surface 13 is cleaned. That is, the discharge port surface 13 is wiped and cleaned.

FIG. 9 is a partial front view showing the positional relationship between a flag (light-shielding portion) 55 mounted on a cam shaft 61 in the drive mechanism of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied and the optical sensor 54. FIG. 10 is a cam diagram showing the relationship between the phase of the cam and the operation of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 11 shows an edge causing a false detection of the flag (light shielding portion) 55. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor signal in a light shielding / light transmitting state in FIG.

First, on the cam diagram in FIG. 10, the cam 55 in a state before recording is rotated to detect an edge 55b at which light is transmitted from light blocking of the flag 55, and the cam is rotated by a predetermined angle from there to stop for a moment. Let it. Thereafter, the cam is rotated again, and this time, the edge 55a, which becomes light-shielded from the light passing through the flag 55, is detected, and the cam is rotated 38 degrees therefrom to position the cam at the wiper-in position shown in FIGS. The reason why the edge 55a is not detected at once in this series of flows is that when the cam moves in an unstable manner when passing through the edge 55b and a signal output as shown in FIG. This is to prevent an erroneous detection that the edge 55b to be formed is an edge 55a at which a light transmission is blocked at the erroneous detection point.

The blade 14 as such a wiper
Is moved by driving the drive gear 22 by a drive motor (not shown), and the forward gear member 30 of the drive gear 22 drives the forward gear member 28 of the blade arm 20. As described above, the drive gear 22 includes the forward gear member 30 and the backward gear member 3 on the motor shaft 26.
1 are provided integrally, while the blade arm 2
The zero pivot 23 is provided integrally with a forward gear member 28 and a backward gear member 29. Therefore, FIG.
When the drive gear 22 is rotated in the direction of arrow A from the state of
Since the forward gear member 30 and the gear member 28 mesh with each other and the blade arm 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the blade 14 moves to the left in the drawing, and the state shown in FIG. The wiping operation (wiping operation) of the discharge port surface 13 of No. 3 is started. Further, the moving speed of the blade 14 at the time of the wiping (at the time of the wiping operation) is P.

Next, when the drive gear 22 is further rotated in the direction of arrow A, the blade 14 as a wiper wipes the entire discharge port surface 13 and passes therethrough.
The cleaning unit 17 that cleans the cleaning unit 4 collides with the cleaning unit 45. At this time, the blade cleaner 17 does not rotate because the abutting portion 37 hits the stopper 35, so that the blade 14 passes through the cleaning portion 45 while flexing as shown in FIG. At this time, the ink or the like adhering to the tip of the blade 14 is wiped by the cleaner 17 to be cleaned. In this case, the cleaning is performed only at the tip of the blade 14, so that a large amount of ink still adheres when viewed from the entire blade 14. It is sufficient if the tip of 14 is clean, and thus the above-described wiper cleaning operation is sufficient in terms of function.

When the blade 14 passes through the blade cleaner 17, the bent blade 14 is released and returns to its original state (restores), so that residual ink adhering to the blade 14 at that time is removed. As shown in FIG. In order to prevent the inside of the recording apparatus from being stained due to the scattering of the ink, it is preferable to provide the wall 42 for receiving the scattering ink at a position on the left side of the blade cleaner 17 as close as possible to the blade cleaner. It is also very effective to extend the eave-shaped partition 43 from the blade cleaner 17.

When the drive gear 22 is further rotated in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. 7, the forward gear member 30 of the drive gear 22 and the forward gear member 2 of the blade arm 20 are rotated.
8 is disengaged, and the return gear member 31 of the drive gear 22 is meshed and connected with the return gear member 29 of the blade arm 20 via the idle gear 32 to transmit the driving force. . Therefore, the blade arm 20 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow D, which is the opposite direction as before. Therefore, the blade holder 15 and the blade 14
Also starts to move in the direction of the arrow E (FIG. 7), which is the opposite direction as before. In this case, when the wiper (blade) 14 passes under the wiper cleaner (blade cleaner) 17, the wiper cleaner 17 rotates in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 7), and the wiper 14 and the wiper cleaner 17 You will escape by avoiding the overlap.

That is, the blade (wiper) 14 pushes the blade cleaner 17 and passes. Therefore, scattering of ink is greatly reduced. The reason why the ink does not completely disappear at this time is that the blade 14 is slightly bent by the force of urging the blade cleaner 17 by the spring 40. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the direction of the blade 14 changes from a position where the blade 14 collides with the cleaning unit 45 and returns to the opposite direction.
The moving speed of the blade 14 until the blade cleaner 17 is pushed away and passes as shown in FIG. If the rotation of the drive gear 22 in the direction of the arrow A is continued, the blade 14 returns to the state shown in FIG. 3 and one wiping operation (one wiping and cleaning) is completed. At this time, the forward gear member 30 of the drive gear 22 is separated from the forward gear member 28 of the blade arm 20 to be in a free state, but the elastic arm portion 20a of the blade arm 20 is 3, the blade arm 20 does not accidentally move from the position shown in FIG.

As described above, since the reciprocating operation of the wiper (blade) 14 is performed only by the rotation of the drive motor (not shown) in one direction, the wiping operation of the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 and the cleaning of the blade 14 itself. (Blade cleaning operation) can be easily and properly executed in one step. However, the driving of the blade 14 as described above may be performed by forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor, or may be performed using a parallel-moving actuator such as a solenoid. Here, the wiping speed P defined above
Is set at a relatively low speed with emphasis on the wiping performance of the normal discharge port surface 13. Further, it is not desirable to set the blade cleaning speed Q defined above to a very high speed from the viewpoint of preventing ink scattering, but it may be set to a speed slightly higher than the wiping speed P. further,
Assuming that a speed other than these speeds P and Q is R, this speed R is desirably set as high as possible to speed up a series of recovery operations. Therefore, the magnitude relation between the above speeds is P <Q <R.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the non-operating state of the pump lever in the drive mechanism of the suction means (recovery means) of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 14 is a side view showing the operation state of the pump lever in the drive mechanism of FIG.
Is a side view showing a standby state of each part of the drive mechanism of the second suction means (cam P ₂ state in FIG. 10), FIG. 15 is the suction state (FIG. Each component of the drive mechanism of the suction means 12 10 is a side view showing a cam P ₆ states) in Figure 1
6 is a side view showing the cam pause mode (cam P ₈ states in FIG. 10) for the cap the ink discharge of each part of the drive mechanism of the suction means 12, 17 12
Is a side view showing a single aspiration and cap recontact of specific components (cams P ₉ state in FIG. 10) in the drive mechanism of the suction means.

The recovery system 10 in this embodiment is different from the recovery system 1
A driving means for driving the suction means for performing suction recovery by driving the motor in one direction, and a capping means or a capping means for bringing the cap into or out of contact with the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3 by driving in the opposite direction. Both the means and the wiping means for wiping the discharge port face 13 are configured to be driven by a cam having a position detecting flag on the same axis and a cam phase detecting means. Such a recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes, in addition to the above description, the characteristic configuration and operation described below (particularly, the configuration and operation of the suction unit of the recovery system 10). Is what you do.

That is, FIGS. 12 to 17 and FIG.
The suction recovery (the configuration and operation of the suction means) of the recovery system 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same components as those used in the description of the configuration and operation of the wiping unit that performs wiping on the discharge port surface 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 12 and 14, the camshaft 61 is coaxial with the motor shaft 26 in FIGS. 3 to 7, and the camshaft 61 is connected to the gear members 30 and 31 (described with the wiping means in FIGS. 3 to 7). ) And a flag 55, a cam gear 62 and a lever cam 63 are arranged on this cam shaft, and an optical sensor 54 is arranged at a position where light can be shielded by the flag 55.

The pump lever 65 has a shaft 65a.
Is rotatably supported by a base 75 (FIG. 14), and its cam contact portion 65c can contact the lever cam 63, and its holder contact portion 65b can contact the holder projection 70d. The roller 69 is supported by the holder 70 so as to be slidable in the radial direction of the holder 70. The holder 70 has a shaft 70a rotatably supported by a base 75, integrally has a gear 70b having a partially missing portion 70c, and further has the pump lever 6 near the missing portion 70c.
A projection 70d that can contact with the projection 5 is formed. Further, a pendulum arm 67 is arranged so that the shaft portion 66a is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of a center gear 66 rotatably supported by a base 75, and the pendulum gear 68 having the shaft portion 68a supported by the pendulum arm 67. Is the gear 70b of the cam gear 62 and the holder 70
Are arranged so as to be selectively meshable with both.

Here, the pendulum arm 67 is given a friction to the center gear 66 by a mechanism (not shown). Swingable. The arm 72 is pivotally supported on a base 75 by a shaft portion 72a. On the arm 72, a cap 7
1 is disposed so as to be in contact with the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3,
A pressure spring 74 is mounted between the spring 75 and the fifth spring hook 75a. The cam engaging portion 72c of the arm 72 is
It is pressed against the arm cam 64 by the force of the pressure spring 74 and is in contact therewith. The tube 73 has one end connected to the arm 72.
, Which is crawled along the base 75 and can be crushed by the roller 69 pressed (pressed) by a spring (not shown). This tube 73
The other end is connected (connected) to an unillustrated discharged ink reservoir.

Next, the suction recovery operation of the suction means (recovery means) of the recovery system 10 described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 14 will be specifically described. First, in FIGS. 12 and 14, when the center gear 66 rotates in the direction of arrow L in the figure by driving from a stepping motor (not shown), the pendulum arm 6
Reference numeral 7 rotates together with the center gear 66 by the above-mentioned friction mechanism, and swings in the direction of arrow K in the drawing. At this time, the pendulum gear 68 is driven by the center gear 66 and is being driven to rotate. When the center gear 66 is further rotated in the direction of arrow L, the pendulum gear 68 engages with the cam gear 62, and as a result, the entire cam rotates in the direction of arrow H in the drawing. At this time,
The friction mechanism of the pendulum arm 67 is in a state of slipping with respect to the center gear 66.

Here, the entire cam is rotated in the direction of arrow H about the cam shaft 61, and an edge 55a from the light transmission of the flag 55 to the light shielding side is detected by the sensor 54 (P on the cam diagram in FIG. 10). ₁ position), the rotate the entire cam 38 degrees from the moment (the position of P ₂ of cam diagrams in FIG. 10), FIG. 12
And the state of FIG. Thereafter, the rotation direction of the stepping motor is reversed, and the center gear 66 is rotated in the direction of arrow M in the figure. Then, the pendulum arm 67 starts swinging in the direction of the arrow J in the figure, the pendulum gear 68 leaves the meshing state with the cam gear 62, further meshes with the gear portion 70b of the holder 70, and moves the holder 70 in the figure. Rotate in the direction of arrow I. Further, when the holder 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow I, and the state shown in FIGS. Positioned.

Next, the motor is again rotated in reverse, and the center gear 6 is rotated.
6 is rotated in the direction of arrow L to rotate the entire cam again in the direction of arrow H around the camshaft 61.
5 of the light shielding sensing the edge 55b of the passing light by the optical sensor 54 (the position of the P ₄ in cam diagrams in FIG. 10), on the cam diagrams of the whole cam is rotated twice from the moment (FIG. 10 to P position of _5). At this time, the entire cam passes through the state of FIG. 13 (the state of Q in FIG. 10). In other words, the pump lever 65 is rotated in the direction of arrow N in FIG. 13 by the raised portion 63a of the lever cam 63, and as a result, the holder contact portion 65b of the pump lever 65 slightly rotates the projection 70d of the holder 70. As a result of this minute rotation, FIG.
When the pendulum gear 68 comes into mesh next time, the gear 70b of the holder 70 is received instead of the toothless portion 70c of the holder 70, so that the center gear 6
The holder 70 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow I in the figure by the rotation force 6.

Next, the recording head 3 to be sucked is positioned at a position where the recording head 3 can be brought into contact with the cap 71, that is, a position in the front and back direction in FIG. Next, the motor was rotated again to the state of Figure 15 to rotate the whole cam 78 degrees about the cam shaft 61 (state of the P ₆ in cam diagrams in FIG. 10). Here, the cap 71 comes into close contact with the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 by the force of the pressure spring 74. Thereafter, the motor is rotated in the reverse direction, the center gear 66 is rotated in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 15, and the holder 70 is rotated from the position in FIG. 13 to the position in FIG. Here, the roller 69 rotates while crushing the tube 73 by the pressing force of a pressure spring (not shown). As a result, a negative pressure is generated in the cap 71 via the tube 73, and the ink is sucked from the ejection openings of the recording head 3.

When the recording head is stopped for a predetermined time in the state shown in FIG.
And the pressure (in-tube pressure) in the area on the right side of the portion crushed by the roller 69 is substantially in the same equilibrium state, and the flow of ink stops. A predetermined amount of suction is secured by this series of operations. Next, a slight negative pressure is generated by further slightly rotating the holder 70 in the direction of the arrow I in the area where the roller 69 is crushing the tube 73, and the motor is reversed at a timing before the pressure reaches an equilibrium state. This and the entire cam is rotated in the arrow H direction in the camshaft 61 around the same time in the state of FIG. 16 (the position of the P ₈ in FIG. 10). The swing of the arm 72 in this process causes the cap 71 to swing.
Since the cap 71 is separated from the recording head 3 while a minute negative pressure is applied to the inside, the amount of residual ink on the cap contact surface (ejection port surface 13) of the recording head 3 can be minimized. it can.

Next, the motor is again rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the holder 70 in the direction of arrow I, so that the drive of the holder 70 by the pendulum gear 68 is cut off as shown in FIG. I do. In this process, the roller 69 squeezes the tube 73 from the state where it is slightly rotated in the direction of the arrow I in FIG. The ink is substantially (almost) discharged into the tube 73. Thereafter, by rotating the entire cam by reversing the motor again in the direction of the arrow H, via the state of FIG. 17 (the position of the P ₉ in FIG. 10) from the state of FIG. 16, the light shielding from light passing flag 55 detects the edge 55a by sensor 54 (the position of P ₁ in FIG. 10), 3 the entire cam from that moment
8 ° rotated (the position of the P ₂ in FIG. 10), the aforementioned FIG 12
And the state of FIG.

At this time, the cap 71 comes into contact with the recording head 3 again in the state shown in FIG. 17, but since the ink in the cap 71 is substantially discharged into the tube 73 as described above, the ink in the cap 71 is discharged. Transfer to the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 again can be prevented. Next, the carriage 2 (FIG. 1) on which the recording head 3 is mounted is moved in the front-back direction (the main scanning direction, that is, the moving direction of the carriage 2) of FIG.
Evacuation. At this time, when the entire cam is rotated and positioned in the direction of arrow H with the separating operation of the cap 71,
Since the flag 55 is rotated by a predetermined angle by detecting the edge 55a from the light transmission to the light shielding of the flag 55, the rotation angle error accumulated by the swinging operation of the repetitive pendulum arm 67 during the suction operation, the slight overrun of the entire cam, etc. Is canceled, and the phase of the entire cam can be accurately and reliably positioned at the correct position.

[0064] In the above embodiment, an example has been described for sucking a plurality of recording heads 3 at the same time, when performing a single aspiration of only one place it is to the position of P ₂ in FIG. 10 a cam, roller 69 The same procedure is followed up to the positioning of the missing tooth of the holder 70, and then the edge 5 from the light shielding to the light transmission of the flag 55 is set.
The position of the P ₇ in FIG. 10 the cam in detection of 5b, the paper front and rear direction (the main scanning direction, i.e. the moving direction of the carriage 2) of the recording head 3 performs positioning to rotate the cam 45.5 ° Figure The capping operation is performed at the position of P ₉ in 10, the holder 70 is rotated in the same procedure as described above, negative pressure is applied, a predetermined time is maintained (a predetermined suction amount is secured), and a slight negative rotation is caused by the fine rotation of the holder 70 again. Perform until pressure is applied.
Thereafter, the entire cam is rotated at a timing before the pressure reaches an equilibrium state, and the above-described temporary stop of the cam is omitted.
Detected by (position of P ₁ in FIG. 10) to rotate the entire cam 38 degrees from that moment (the position of the P ₂ in FIG. 10),
The state shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 is set.

As described above, when determining the phase of the entire cam before positioning the recording head 3, when wiping the discharge port surface 13 by the wiping means described above, the edge 55a from the passage of the light of the flag 55 to the light shielding is set. By using the edge to be detected so as to use the edge 55b from the light shielding to the light transmission of the flag 55 when the ink is sucked from the ejection port 82 by the suction means described above,
The rotation amount of the entire cam can be reduced, and each recovery mode can be executed efficiently.

The operation of each recovery unit of the recovery system 10 at the time of first use (at the time of first use) of the ink jet recording apparatus configured as described above, that is, the operation of the aforementioned wiping unit and the aforementioned suction unit. This will be described below. Since the recording head 3 as recording means has already been mounted on the carriage 2 at the time of shipment of the recording apparatus from the production factory, the user of the apparatus first mounts the ink tank 9 on the recording head 3. After that, the recording device recognizes that it is the first use (the first use) by using information in the EEPROM, the first (first) recording command, or the like as a trigger, and enters the arrival recovery mode.

First, the suction operation by the suction means is started. According to the procedure of the suction operation described above, the carriage 2 is first positioned at a predetermined position, and then the cap 71 is brought into close contact with the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 to thereby hold the holder 70.
And the roller 69 rotates while crushing the tube 73. As a result, the tube 73 is squeezed in a predetermined range, a negative pressure is generated in the cap 71 via the tube 73, and the ink is sucked and discharged from the discharge port 82.
At this time, in order to surely replace the distribution ink filled in the recording head 3 with the recording ink, the holder 7 is used.
By setting the rotation speed to 0 faster than during the normal suction recovery operation, the suction pressure (the degree of negative pressure) is set higher than during suction in the normal recovery mode, and the rotation amount of the holder 70 is set to be larger than in the normal recovery mode. By setting, the suction amount is set to be larger than the suction amount at the time of suction in the normal recovery mode. Further, by repeating the suction operation (suction recovery process) in the normal recovery mode a plurality of times, it is possible to perform an operation to further reliably replace the distribution ink with the recording ink in the recording unit (recording head) 3. Good.

Subsequent to the suction operation by the suction means described above, the wiping operation by the wiping means, that is, the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 is wiped (blade).
At 14, a wiping operation for wiping and cleaning is started. The carriage 2 is positioned at a predetermined position, and then the cam is rotated.
After that, the carriage 2 is retracted from the wiping position, and the blade 14 is returned to the initial position. Here, the above wiping operation may be repeated a plurality of times in order to reliably remove the distribution ink adhered to the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 after the suction.

Also, the carriage 2 is not positioned at the wiping position, and the blade 14 is kept in contact with the wiper (blade) 14 and the discharge port surface 13 of the recording head 3.
Operating only the blade 14 to clean the blade 14 itself as it passes through the cleaner 17 for cleaning the blade, and
By performing the cleaning operation of the blade itself more (for example, increasing the number of times) than in the normal wiping operation, the blade 14 to which the distribution ink has adhered can be more reliably cleaned.

Further, in order to surely remove the distribution ink in the cap 71 after the suction operation, the carriage 2 is retracted from the space above the recovery system 10 (directly above the recovery system 10).
A sequence for performing a large number of idle suction operations for rotating the holder 70 may be executed without bringing the holder 1 into close contact with the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3. This makes it possible to reliably discharge the distribution ink from the inside of the cap 71. Here, if the recording ink tank is not installed in advance, the replacement of the distribution ink with the recording ink may not be performed smoothly, so the recording ink supplied to the recording head is stored. The detection means (ink tank presence / absence detection means) detects whether or not the ink tank is mounted at the mounting site for mounting the ink tank, and when it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted, When a request for the arrival recovery mode is received, it is preferable that a warning is issued to the apparatus user by a warning means such as an alarm to urge the apparatus user to mount the ink tank.

The recovery system (recovery device) 1 as described above
And a recording head (inkjet head) 3 mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus is filled with a distribution ink from the time of shipment from a production factory, and the viscosity of the distribution ink is About 3
It is preferably in the range of 範 囲 10.3 cp. The viscosity of the recording ink used for ordinary recording is about 2 cp, and the water composition is about 70%. In addition, the conventionally-distributed ink for distribution has almost no difference in viscosity, water composition, and the like as compared with the recording ink except that the coloring agent is removed. On the other hand, the distribution ink used in the present invention has a high solvent content ratio of glycerin, urea, triethylene glycol, trimethanol propane and the like, and has a water composition of 50% or less. This suppresses a change in composition due to a change in evaporation with time, and secures the storage stability of the ink jet recording head 3. In the present invention, as a distribution ink, does not contain a coloring material,
Alternatively, a material having a smaller coloring material component than the recording ink is used.

Further, after the ink jet recording apparatus 1 has passed the physical distribution, at the time of the first use, before the suction recovery operation is performed by the recovery system (recovery mechanism) 10, during suction, or from before suction to the end of suction. By applying a desired electric signal to an electrothermal transducer (electrothermal resistance element) 86 for keeping the ink warm shown in FIG. 18 and driving the same, the ink for distribution in the common liquid chamber 83 is heated. Alternatively, the distribution ink in the recording head 3 may be heated by applying an electric signal that does not eject ink to the electrothermal transducer (electric heat resistance element) 85 for ejecting ink and driving it. Furthermore, the ink for distribution may be heated by simultaneously driving both the electrothermal transducer 86 for keeping the ink warm and the electrothermal transducer 85 for discharging the ink.

Further, after the ink jet recording apparatus 1 has passed the physical distribution, at the time of the first use, before the suction recovery operation is performed by the recovery system (recovery mechanism) 10, or during suction, or from before suction to the end of suction. 18 drives the electrothermal converter (electrothermal resistance element) 85 for ink ejection shown in FIG. 18 to eject the ink for distribution and assists the discharge of the ink for distribution. Or, at the time of the first use,
Before the suction recovery operation is performed by the recovery system (recovery mechanism) 10, during the suction, or during the period from before the suction to the end of the suction, the electrothermal converter 86 for keeping the ink warm is driven, so that the physical distribution in the common liquid chamber 83 is performed. The ink is discharged by driving the ink-discharging electrothermal transducer 85 while keeping the temperature of the ink for use, thereby assisting the discharge of the distribution ink.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device for controlling a heating amount, a suction amount, and the like of a recording head based on time and temperature information in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 1, information storage means 101, 408 provided inside the recording apparatus or inside the ink jet recording head 3 shown in FIG.
An information storage means which can be written or updated by being constituted by an EEPROM, a flash ROM, or the like, is provided to the temperature detecting means 102 and the time counting means 103 in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 or to the recording head 3. The temperature information and the time information from the provided temperature detecting means 409 are stored. Then, as shown in FIG. 20, from the factory shipment of the inkjet recording apparatus,
Information storage means 501 of recording apparatus 1 or recording head 3
The temperature information and the time information stored in the memory are updated at an arbitrary time interval by the reading and writing means 503, and the updated information is written in the information storage means 101 and 408.

The storage information is read out by storage information reading means 503 provided in the ink jet recording apparatus, and the recovery system (recovery mechanism) is used when the physical distribution state of the recording apparatus ends, that is, at the time of the first use. Before the suction recovery operation is performed by 10 or during the suction recovery operation, control as shown in FIG. 20 is performed. That is, the information storage unit 101 in the inkjet recording apparatus or the information storage unit 408 in the inkjet recording head 3
(Not shown), the elapsed time information and the temperature information are read by the information reading / writing means 503, and these information are transmitted to the control means 504.

Then, a predetermined driving condition table 506 for the ink-discharging electrothermal transducer (electrothermal resistance element, etc.) 85 and a driving condition table 505 for the ink heat-insulating electrothermal transducer (electric thermoresistance element, etc.) 86. Are used to determine the optimal conditions for the heat retention and the conditions for the ink discharge and discharge by the electrothermal transducer 85 for ink ejection and the electrothermal transducer 86 for keeping the ink warm. The driving conditions of the recording head 3 are transmitted to the recording head 3 via the inkjet head driving unit 507, and the recording head is driven. At this time, the temperature detecting means 50 provided in the recording head 3 as shown in FIG.
20 or the temperature detecting means 102 provided in the ink jet recording apparatus, that is, control in consideration of the environmental temperature at the time of the first recovery operation by the temperature detecting means 509 in FIG. 20 is also possible. In addition, these controls enable a configuration in which the first recovery control is performed by storing information for each ink color or each ejection port array.

In the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 19 and 20, the recording head by the recovery means in the arrival recovery mode executed by the recovery means at the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user. When the ink is sucked from the recording head 3 or during a recovery operation before the ink is sucked, the electrothermal transducer 8 for keeping the ink warm in the recording head 3 is used.
6 and the ink-discharging electrothermal transducer 85 heats the distribution ink to lower the viscosity, or the ink-discharging electrothermal transducer 85 preliminarily discharges the ink. ) Is combined with the suction operation, so that even the distribution ink, which often has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, can be sufficiently removed from the recording head 3 by suction. It is possible to prevent mixing of the ink for printing in the recording head 3 at the time of image formation, thereby preventing deterioration of the image quality due to the influence of the ink for distribution.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the above-described embodiment, the carriage 2 for mounting and moving the recording head 3 for discharging the recording ink to perform recording, and the suction operation for the recording head. Recovery means for performing a recovery operation such as wiping operation or the like, and an ink jet recording apparatus shipped from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage. The arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit at the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user is different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery unit after the first use. As a result, the recording quality of the recording head 3 during the transportation and storage from the time of shipment from the production factory to the user of the apparatus is maintained. Because, the logistics ink specializing the composition even if previously filled the interior of the recording head,
While ensuring that the device user replaces the distribution ink with the recording ink when using the recording device for the first time,
The removal of the remaining distribution ink in the recovery means can be promoted, and the transfer of the remaining distribution ink to the recording head 3 can be prevented. It is possible to eliminate the trouble of setting the recording head 3 while avoiding the trouble of setting the recording head 3, improve the set-up property of the recording apparatus, and eliminate the recording quality defect due to the distribution ink in the initial stage of using the recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided.

According to the above-described embodiment, the recovery means includes suction means for performing suction from the recording head,
By setting the suction pressure at the time of suction of ink from the recording head 3 by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode higher than the suction pressure at the time of ink suction in the normal recovery mode, the viscosity is higher than that of the recording ink. Even the distribution ink, which is often used, can be sufficiently removed by suction from the recording head 3, and the distribution ink in the recording head 3 can be reliably replaced with the recording ink. In this case, it is possible to prevent the distribution ink and the recording ink from being mixed with each other, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the suction means for sucking the recording head 3 is provided as the recovery means, and the suction amount when the ink is sucked from the recording head 3 by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Is set to be larger than the suction amount at the time of ink suction in the normal recovery mode, it is possible to sufficiently suction and remove the distribution ink which is often higher in viscosity than the recording ink from the recording head 3. It is possible to reliably replace the distribution ink in the recording head 3 with the recording ink,
Similarly, it is possible to prevent a problem that the ink for distribution and the ink for recording are mixed in the recording head 3 during image formation, thereby preventing a problem that image quality is deteriorated.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the recovery means is provided with suction means for performing suction from the recording head 3, and the number of times of suction at the time of suction of ink from the recording head 3 by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Is set to be larger than the number of suctions at the time of ink suction in the normal recovery mode, so that even distribution ink, which is often higher in viscosity than recording ink, can be sufficiently suctioned and removed from the recording head 3. It is possible to reliably replace the distribution ink in the recording head 3 with the recording ink. Similarly, the distribution ink and the recording ink mix in the recording head 3 during image formation, and the image quality deteriorates. This has the effect of preventing inconveniences.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the arrival recovery mode is a mode in which one type of recovery operation of the normal recovery mode is continuously performed a plurality of times, so that the arrival recovery mode is higher than the recording ink. Even the distribution ink having a high viscosity can be sufficiently suctioned and removed from the recording head 3, and the distribution ink in the recording means can be reliably replaced with the recording ink.
The effect is obtained that it is possible to prevent a problem that image quality deteriorates due to mixing of the distribution ink and the recording ink in the recording head 3 during recording.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, a suction means for sucking from the recording head 3 is provided as the recovery means, and a cap is provided when the ink is sucked from the recording head 3 by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. 7
By setting the number of empty suctions for discharging the ink in the cap 71 to the outside of the cap by setting the inside of the device 1 to the atmosphere communication state and operating the suction unit, the number of empty suctions in the normal recovery mode is set. , Cap 7
By reliably discharging the distribution ink remaining in 1 and replacing the inside of the cap with the recording ink, the remaining distribution ink in the cap is transferred to the recording head 3 again by the subsequent capping operation or suction operation. This can prevent the problem that the distribution ink and the recording ink mix with each other in the recording head 3 at the time of recording, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the recovery means includes the suction means for performing suction from the recording head 3 and the wiper 14 for wiping the recording head 3, and the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. By setting the number of times of wiping by the wiper 14 after suction of ink from the recording head 3 by the number of times of wiping after suction of ink in the normal recovery mode, the number of wipings remaining on the ejection opening surface 13 of the recording head 3 It is possible to reliably remove the physical distribution ink by the wiping operation, and it is possible to more efficiently prevent a problem that the quality of the image is degraded due to the mixture of the physical distribution ink and the recording ink in the recording head 3 during recording. The effect is obtained.

According to the above-described embodiment, the recovery means includes the wiper 14 for wiping the recording head 3 and the cleaner 17 for cleaning the wiper, and the wiping by the wiper 14 in the arrival recovery mode. After the cleaner 1
7 is set to be greater than the number of times of cleaning after wiping in the normal recovery mode, so that the remaining distribution ink adhered to the wiper 14 can be reliably removed when wiping the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3. To the recording head 3 by subsequent wiping.
By preventing the remaining distribution ink from being transferred to the ejection port surface 13, the distribution ink and the recording ink mix with each other in the recording head 3 during recording more efficiently, thereby deteriorating the image quality. An effect is obtained that a failure can be prevented.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the recovery means includes the suction means for performing suction from the recording head 3 and the wiper 14 for wiping the recording head 3. After the ink is sucked from the recording head 3 by the means, the wiping is performed by the wiper 14 so that the distribution ink in the recording head 3 can be used for recording before the distribution ink adheres to the new wiper 14. The wiping operation is performed in a state where the ink for distribution is almost eliminated from the ejection port surface 13 of the recording head 3 and the ink for recording is enriched, and the distribution to the new wiper 14 is completed. To prevent transfer of the remaining distribution ink to the ejection port surface 13 in the subsequent wiping operation. It can be an advantage of being capable of ensuring continued good image quality from the start recording apparatus used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the distribution ink is made to have a higher viscosity than the recording ink,
The recording ink contains a coloring material, and the distribution ink does not contain the coloring material, or has a smaller coloring material component than the recording ink. Even when the composition of the distribution ink is specialized in order to maintain the recording quality of the recording head 3 at the time of transportation and storage at hand, the recording is performed from the distribution ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus. As a result, it is possible to promote the removal of the physical distribution ink remaining in the recovery system and to prevent the residual physical distribution ink from being transferred to the recording head 3 again. As a result, it is possible for the user of the apparatus to save the trouble of setting the recording head 3 on the recording apparatus at the start of using the recording apparatus, to avoid a problem caused by a setting mistake, and to improve the set-up property. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the recording quality defect in the initial stage of using the recording apparatus using the distribution ink, thereby achieving an effect that a good image can be obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the carriage 2 for mounting and moving the recording head 3 for discharging the recording ink to perform recording, and recovery means for performing a recovery operation for the recording head 3; Wherein the recording head 3 is filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink.
Is mounted on the carriage 2 and is shipped from a production factory. When the user uses the recording apparatus for the first time, the arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit is the first time. Of the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery unit after the use of the recording head 3, the same configuration as the recovery mode performed when the recording head 3 is replaced allows the apparatus user to first use the recording apparatus. When using the printer, even if the apparatus user replaces the recording head 3 for some reason, the apparatus user switches from the distribution ink to the recording ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus without increasing the recovery mode. Can be reliably performed, and the removal of the remaining physical distribution ink in the recovery system 10 can be promoted. Copy can be prevented, thereby, there is an advantage that it simplifies the operation sequence of the recording apparatus.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the carriage 2 for mounting and moving the recording head 3 for discharging the recording ink to perform recording, and the recording ink supplied to the recording head 3 are used. An ink jet that is shipped from a production plant in a state where the recording head 3 filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage 2 and a mounting portion for mounting an ink tank 9 to be stored. A recording device that detects whether or not the ink tank 9 is mounted on the mounting portion; and a first device of the recording device that is used by the device user by the detecting device.
A warning means for issuing a warning to a user of the apparatus when it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting portion at the time of the second use; Ink tank 9 can be reliably set, and the replacement operation from the distribution ink in the recording head 3 to the recording ink can be performed more reliably. The effect of being able to secure is obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recording head 3 is provided with an electrothermal converter 85 for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. The above-described effect can be efficiently achieved by employing a configuration in which ink is ejected by utilizing a pressure change based on the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the heat energy generated by the electrothermal transducer 85.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ink for distribution is heated by the electrothermal transducer 86 for keeping the ink in the recording head during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Or an electrothermal transducer 8 for discharging ink in the recording head.
5, the distribution ink is heated, the distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal converter 86 for keeping the ink warm and an electrothermal converter 85 for discharging the ink in the recording head, The distribution ink is discharged by an electrothermal converter for discharging ink, or the distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal converter 86 for maintaining the temperature of the ink in the recording head. Since the physical distribution ink is ejected by the converter 85, even if the physical distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the physical distribution ink is reduced in viscosity to reduce the physical distribution ink. From the distribution ink in the recording head to the recording ink can be more reliably performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink for distribution is heated by the electrothermal converter 86 for keeping the ink warm in the recording head between the time before the suction of the ink by the suction means and the time when the suction is completed in the arrival recovery mode. Or an electrothermal transducer 8 for discharging ink in the recording head.
5, the distribution ink is heated, the distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal converter 86 for keeping the ink warm and an electrothermal converter 85 for discharging the ink in the recording head, The distribution ink is discharged by an electrothermal converter 85 for discharging ink, or
The distribution ink is heated by the electrothermal converter 86 for keeping the ink in the recording head and the distribution ink is discharged by the electrothermal converter 85 for discharging the ink. Even if the viscosity of the distribution ink is higher than that of the distribution ink, the distribution ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head by reducing the viscosity of the distribution ink, and the recording ink can be removed from the distribution ink in the recording head. The effect that replacement with ink can be performed more reliably is obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ink for distribution is heated by the electrothermal transducer 85 for discharging ink in the recording head between the time before ink suction by the suction means and the time when suction is completed in the arrival recovery mode. It is possible to arbitrarily select an input signal value, a frequency, an ink color to be input and an ejection port when ejecting the ink. Since the frequency and the ink color can be input, the effect is obtained that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink.

Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration having the time counting means 103 for counting the elapsed time from the time of shipment, the configuration having the time reading means for reading the time elapsed from the time of shipment, and the time elapsed from the time of shipment. A configuration having control means for judging and determining the heating amount of the recording head 3, a configuration having a temperature history storage means for storing a temperature history from the time of shipment, and a configuration having a temperature history reading means for reading the temperature history from the time of shipment Since the configuration has a heating control unit that determines and determines the heating amount of the recording head 3 based on the temperature history from the time of shipment, or the heating temperature can be set for each ink color by the heating control unit, By optimizing heating values and suction conditions,
The effect is obtained that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the storage means capable of rewriting and recalling the elapsed time from the time of shipment and the temperature history is provided, accurate information can always be held, and the ink discharge condition, By optimizing the heating value, the suction condition, and the like, an effect is obtained that the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. In the above embodiment, the viscosity of the physical distribution ink is higher than the viscosity of the recording ink, so that the storage stability of the recording head can be improved.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and a recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head are provided. A method for handling an inkjet recording apparatus provided, comprising: a step of shipping an inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage; In the first use of the recording apparatus according to the above, a loading recovery mode different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery means after the first use is performed on the recording head by the recovery means. And transporting and storing the printhead 3 from the time of shipment from the production factory to the user of the apparatus. In order to maintain the recording quality of the recording head 3 in the recording head, even if the recording head is filled with a distribution-specific ink having a special composition, the distribution of the recording head when the recording apparatus is first used by the user of the recording apparatus. And the removal of the remaining physical distribution ink in the recovery means can be promoted, and the transfer of the remaining physical distribution ink to the recording head 3 can be prevented. By doing so, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the recording head 3 at the start of use of the recording apparatus, to avoid a problem caused by a mistake in setting the recording head 3, to improve the setup of the recording apparatus,
Provided is a method of handling an ink jet recording apparatus that can eliminate recording quality defects caused by physical distribution ink at an early stage of using the recording apparatus.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the carriage for mounting and moving the recording head for performing recording by discharging the recording ink, and the recovery means for performing the recovery operation for the recording head are provided. A method for handling an inkjet recording apparatus provided, comprising: a step of shipping an inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage; In the first use of the recording apparatus according to the above, among the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery means after the first use,
Causing the recovery means to execute the same arrival recovery mode as the recovery mode performed when the recording head is replaced with respect to the recording head. When using the printer, even if the apparatus user replaces the recording head 3 for some reason, the apparatus user switches from the distribution ink to the recording ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus without increasing the recovery mode. Can be reliably performed, the removal of the remaining physical distribution ink in the recovery system 10 can be promoted, and the transfer of the remaining physical distribution ink to the recording head 3 can be prevented. An effect is obtained that the operation sequence of the device can be simplified.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for discharging and recording a recording ink, and storing the recording ink supplied to the recording head. A mounting portion for mounting an ink tank to be mounted, comprising: mounting a recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink on the carriage. The process of shipping the device from the production factory and the first of the recording devices by the device user
At the time of the second use, if it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting portion, a step of issuing a warning to the apparatus user,
In the arrival recovery mode, the recording ink tank 9 can be reliably set, and the operation of replacing the distribution ink in the recording head 3 with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. An advantage is obtained in that good recording quality can be secured from the beginning.

In the above embodiment, a serial recording type ink jet recording apparatus for recording while moving the recording head 3 relative to the recording medium P has been described as an example. The same effect can be achieved with a line recording type ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording only by sub-scanning using a line type recording head having a length covering the entire width or a part of the medium. Can be done. Also, the present invention provides a recording apparatus using one recording head, a color recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads recording with inks of different colors, or a gradation using a plurality of recording heads recording the same color at different densities. The present invention can be similarly applied to a recording apparatus and a recording apparatus in which these are combined, and can achieve the same effect.

The present invention can be applied to a case where the ink jet recording apparatus uses a recording head using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. This provides excellent effects in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head of a type that discharges ink. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0101]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and recovery for the recording head. Recovery means for performing an operation, comprising: an inkjet recording apparatus shipped from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage;
Since the arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit at the first use of the recording device by the apparatus user is different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery unit after the first use, In addition to reliably replacing the distribution ink with the recording ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus, the removal of the residual distribution ink in the recovery unit can be promoted. Can be prevented from being re-transferred to the recording head, whereby the trouble of setting the recording head at the start of use of the recording apparatus can be saved, and the trouble caused by a mistake in setting the recording head can be avoided. In addition to improving the set-up of the recording device, it is possible to eliminate recording quality defects caused by distribution ink in the initial stage of using the recording device. Jet recording apparatus is provided.

According to the second to fifth aspects of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a suction means for performing suction from the recording head is provided as the recovery means, and the suction means in the arrival recovery mode is provided. A configuration in which the suction pressure at the time of ink suction from the recording head is set higher than the suction pressure at the time of ink suction in the normal recovery mode, and a suction unit that performs suction from the recording head as the recovery unit; A configuration in which the suction amount of ink from the recording head by the suction unit is set to be larger than the suction amount of ink in the normal recovery mode, and a suction unit that performs suction from the recording head as the recovery unit; In the arrival recovery mode, the number of times of suction of the ink from the recording head by the suction unit is set to the normal number of times. In the configuration, the number of suction operations is set to be larger than the number of times of ink suction in the mode, or the arrival recovery mode is a mode in which one type of recovery operation in the normal recovery mode is continuously performed a plurality of times. In addition to the effect, even the distribution ink, which often has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, can be sufficiently suctioned and removed from the recording means, and the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink is more reliable. It is possible to more effectively prevent the problem that the distribution ink and the recording ink are mixed in the recording head at the time of recording and the image quality is degraded.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a suction unit is provided as the recovery unit for performing suction from the recording head, and the recording by the suction unit in the arrival recovery mode. When the ink is sucked from the head, the inside of the cap is communicated with the atmosphere and the suction means is operated to discharge the ink in the cap to the outside of the cap. In addition to the above-described effects, in addition to the above effects, the distribution ink remaining in the cap is reliably discharged, and the inside of the cap is replaced with the recording ink. It can be prevented from being transferred to the recording head again by the subsequent capping operation or suction operation, and the recording head can be A problem that image quality and intermingled recording ink for deteriorates can be more effectively prevented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recovery means includes a suction unit for performing suction from the recording head and a wiper for wiping the recording head, In the recovery mode, the number of times of wiping by the wiper after suction of ink from the recording head by the suction unit is set to be greater than the number of times of wiping after suction of ink in the normal recovery mode. hand,
The distribution ink remaining on the ejection port surface of the recording head can be reliably removed by the wiping operation, and the distribution ink and the recording ink mix with each other in the recording head during recording, thereby deteriorating the image quality. Failure can be prevented more effectively.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the arrival recovery mode includes a wiper for wiping the recording head and a cleaner for cleaning the wiper. The number of times of cleaning by the cleaner after wiping by the wiper is set to be larger than the number of times of cleaning after wiping in the normal recovery mode. The remaining physical distribution ink adhered to the wiper, prevent the remaining physical distribution ink from being transferred to the ejection port surface of the print head during subsequent wiping, and The problem that the image quality deteriorates due to mixing of ink and recording ink It can be a layer effectively prevented.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recovery means includes a suction means for performing suction from the recording head and a wiper for wiping the recording head, and In the recovery mode, first, ink is sucked from the recording head by the suction means, and then wiping is performed by the wiper.In addition to the above-described effects, before the distribution ink adheres to the new wiper, End the process of replacing the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink,
The wiping operation is performed in a state where the ink for distribution is almost eliminated from the ejection port surface of the recording head and the recording ink is rich, so that the distribution ink is attached to the new wiper and to the ejection port surface in the subsequent wiping. Transfer of the remaining distribution ink can be prevented, and good image quality can be continuously ensured from the start of use of the recording apparatus.

According to the tenth and eleventh aspects of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, or the recording ink contains a coloring material and Since the ink does not contain a coloring material or has a composition having a smaller coloring material component than the recording ink, in addition to the above effects, even when the composition of the distribution ink is specialized to maintain the recording quality of the recording head, In addition, it is possible to eliminate recording quality defects due to distribution ink in the initial stage of using the recording apparatus.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head, An ink jet recording apparatus shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage.
The arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit at the time of the first use is a recovery mode performed at the time of replacement of the recording head among the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery unit after the first use. The configuration is the same as that described above, so that the user of the apparatus can reliably replace the distribution ink with the recording ink when using the recording apparatus for the first time, and promote the removal of the remaining distribution ink in the recovery means. Can prevent the remaining distribution ink from being transferred to the recording head again, and can be recovered even if the recording head is replaced for any reason when the user first uses the recording apparatus. Ink jet that can sufficiently remove the remaining logistics ink in the means and eliminate recording quality defects due to the logistics ink in the initial stage of using the printing apparatus Recording device is provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and an ink tank for storing recording ink supplied to the recording head A mounting portion for mounting, and an ink jet recording apparatus shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the ink tank is mounted on the mounting portion, and that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting portion during the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user by the detecting means. And a warning means for issuing a warning to the user of the apparatus when the detection of the ink tank is completed. Can be set reliably, the operation of replacing the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably, and good recording quality can be secured from the beginning of use of the recording apparatus. A recording device is provided.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, during or before the suction of the ink by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode, the ink for distribution is heated by the electrothermal transducer for keeping the ink in the recording head. Is heated, so that even if the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the distribution ink is sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head by reducing the viscosity of the distribution ink. Therefore, there is an effect that the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the invention of claim 17, further, the ink for distribution is heated by the electrothermal converter for discharging ink in the recording head during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Further, even when the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the viscosity of the distribution ink is reduced by utilizing the existing electrothermal converter for discharging the ink. The ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head, and there is an effect that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, further, during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode, an electrothermal transducer for keeping ink in the recording head and an ink-discharging element for discharging ink are provided. Since the distribution ink is heated by the electrothermal converter, the distribution ink can be more efficiently reduced by lowering the viscosity of the distribution ink even when the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink. The recording ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head, so that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the ink for distribution is ejected by the electrothermal transducer for ejecting ink in the recording head during or before ink is sucked by the suction unit in the arrival recovery mode. Since the configuration is adopted, there is an effect that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, further, the ink for distribution is heated by an electrothermal converter for keeping the temperature of the ink in the recording head during ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Since the configuration is such that the distribution ink is discharged by the ink discharge electrothermal transducer, the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. . According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the distribution ink is heated by the electrothermal transducer for keeping the ink in the recording head between before and after the ink is sucked by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. With the configuration, even if the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the distribution ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head by reducing the viscosity of the distribution ink. Thus, there is an effect that the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, between the time before ink suction by the suction means and the time when suction is completed in the arrival recovery mode, the ink for electrodistribution in the recording head is used for the distribution ink. Since the composition is heated, even when the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the viscosity of the distribution ink is reduced by using the existing ink discharge electrothermal converter. The distribution ink can be sufficiently suctioned and removed from the recording head, and the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. According to the invention of Claim 23, further, between the time before the suction of the ink by the suction means and the time of the end of the suction in the arrival recovery mode, the electrothermal converter for keeping the ink in the recording head and the electrothermal converter for discharging the ink. Since the physical distribution ink is heated by the body, even more efficiently, even when the physical distribution ink is higher in viscosity than the recording ink, the physical distribution ink is reduced in viscosity to reduce the physical distribution ink. There is an effect that the ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head, and the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, between the time before the suction of the ink by the suction means and the time of the end of the suction in the arrival recovery mode, the electrothermal transducer for discharging the ink in the recording head causes the distribution ink to flow. In addition, even when the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink, the distribution ink is sufficiently suctioned and removed from the recording head by reducing the viscosity of the distribution ink. Therefore, there is an effect that the replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the distribution ink is heated by the electrothermal transducer for keeping the ink in the recording head between before the suction of the ink by the suction unit and the end of the suction in the arrival recovery mode. Since the distribution ink is discharged by an electrothermal converter for discharging ink, even when the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink,
By lowering the viscosity of the distribution ink, the distribution ink can be sufficiently sucked and removed from the recording head, and the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. There is an effect that can be.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, further, in the arrival recovery mode, between the time before the suction of the ink by the suction means and the time when the suction is completed, the electrothermal transducer for discharging ink in the recording head is used to control the distribution ink. When heating and discharging, an input signal value, a frequency, an ink color and a discharge port to be signal-input can be arbitrarily selected, and an arbitrary input signal value to the ink-heating electrothermal transducer for the recording head, Since the frequency and the ink color can be input, there is an effect that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a time counting means for counting an elapsed time from the time of shipping. There is an effect that the replacement of the recording ink with the recording ink can be performed more reliably.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a time reading means for reading an elapsed time from the time of shipment. There is an effect that the replacement of the distribution ink with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a control means for judging and determining the heating amount of the recording head based on the elapsed time from the time of shipment. There is an effect that the ink for distribution in the head can be more reliably replaced with the ink for recording.

According to the thirtieth aspect of the present invention, since the temperature history storage means for storing the temperature history from the time of shipment is further provided, the recording value is further optimized by optimizing the heating value and the suction condition. There is an effect that the replacement of the distribution ink in the head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a temperature history reading means for reading a temperature history from the time of shipment. There is an effect that the replacement of the recording ink with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the thirty-second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a heating control means for judging and determining the heating amount of the recording head based on a temperature history from the time of shipment, so that the heating value is further optimized, There is an effect that replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably.

According to the thirty-third aspect of the present invention, the heating temperature can be set for each ink color by the heating control means. There is an effect that replacement of the distribution ink in the recording head with the recording ink can be performed more reliably. According to the invention of claim 34, further,
Since it has a storage means capable of rewriting and recalling the elapsed time and temperature history from the time of shipment,
It is possible to always hold accurate information,
By optimizing the heating value, the suction condition, and the like, there is an effect that the distribution ink in the recording head can be more reliably replaced with the recording ink. According to the invention of claim 35, the viscosity of the physical distribution ink is higher than the viscosity of the recording ink, so that the storage stability of the recording head can be further improved. is there.

According to the thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet apparatus comprising: a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink; A method of handling a recording apparatus, comprising: a step of shipping an inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink attached to the carriage; and recording by the apparatus user. Causing the recovery means to execute, on the recording head, a loading recovery mode different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery means after the first use of the apparatus, when the apparatus is used for the first time; And the replacement of the distribution ink with the recording ink when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus. It is possible to reliably perform the removal of the remaining physical distribution ink in the recovery unit, and to prevent the remaining physical distribution ink from being transferred to the recording head again. In addition to saving the trouble of setting the print head, it is possible to avoid problems caused by a mistake in setting the print head, thereby improving the set-up of the printing apparatus, and eliminating printing quality defects due to physical distribution ink in the initial use of the printing apparatus. The present invention provides a method for handling an ink jet recording apparatus.

According to the 37th aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet apparatus comprising: a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink; and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. A method of handling a recording apparatus, comprising: a step of shipping an inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink attached to the carriage; and recording by the apparatus user. During the first use of the apparatus, of the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery means after the first use, the same arrival recovery mode as the recovery mode performed when the recording head is replaced, A step of causing the recording head to perform the recovery means. It is possible to reliably replace the physical distribution ink with the recording ink at the time of use, promote the removal of the residual physical distribution ink in the recovery unit, and transfer the residual physical distribution ink to the recording head again. Even if the recording head is replaced for any reason when the apparatus user first uses the recording apparatus, it is possible to sufficiently remove the remaining distribution ink in the recovery means, and Provided is a method for handling an ink jet recording apparatus that can eliminate recording quality defects due to physical distribution ink in an early stage of use.

According to the thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for discharging recording ink to perform recording, and an ink tank for storing recording ink supplied to the recording head And a mounting part for mounting the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is produced in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage. During the process of shipping from the factory and the first use of the recording device by the device user,
Issuing a warning to the apparatus user when it is detected that the ink tank is not attached to the attachment site, so that the recording ink tank can be securely used in the arrival recovery mode. The ink jet recording apparatus can be set, and the replacement operation from the distribution ink in the recording head to the recording ink can be performed more reliably, and good recording quality can be secured from the beginning of use of the recording apparatus. A handling method is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, partially cut away.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a recovery system wiping unit of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state before a wiping operation of a wiping unit (recovery unit) in an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a state during a wiping operation of the wiping unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a state when the wiping operation of the wiping unit shown in FIG. 3 is completed.

6 is a schematic side view showing a state where the wiper is cleaned after the wiping operation is completed in the wiping unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a state where the wiper holder returns after the wiper is cleaned by the wiping unit of FIG. 3;

8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state (A) when a cleaner for cleaning the wiper in FIG. 2 is operated and a state (B) of a central portion when the cleaner is rotated to a non-operation position. .

FIG. 9 is a partial front view showing a positional relationship between a flag mounted coaxially with a cam of a recovery system and an optical sensor in an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a cam diagram showing a relationship between a recovery cam phase and operation in an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor signal in a light-shielded / light-transmitting state at an edge that causes erroneous detection of the flag shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a state where the pump lever is at a non-operation position in the drive mechanism of the suction unit (recovery unit) of the recovery system in one embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

13 is a side view showing a state where the pump lever is in the operating position in the drive mechanism of the suction means of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a state where each component is at a standby position in the drive mechanism of the suction unit of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state where each component is at a suction operation position in the drive mechanism of the suction means of FIG. 12;

16 is a side view showing a state in which a cam for discharging ink in a cap of each component is temporarily stopped in the drive mechanism of the suction unit of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a state in which each component is at a position of independent suction and cap re-contact in the drive mechanism of the suction means of FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink ejection unit of the recording head in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a recording head (inkjet head) used in an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control device that controls a heating amount, a suction amount, and the like of a print head based on time and temperature information in an inkjet printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet recording apparatus 2 Carriage 3 Recording head (ink-jet head, recording means) 4 Power transmission mechanism 5 Paper feed mechanism 7 Platen 9 Ink tank 10 Recovery system (suction means and / or wiping means) 13 Discharge port surface 14 Wiper (blade) 15 Blade holder (wiper holder) 16 Operating mechanism 17 Cleaner (wiper cleaner) 18 Base 20 Blade arm 21 Gear mechanism 22 Drive gear 26 Motor shaft 27 Follower gear 45 Cleaning unit 54 Optical sensor 55 Flag 61 Cam shaft 62 Cam gear 63 Lever cam 64 Arm cam 65 Pump lever 66 Central gear 67 Pendulum arm 68 Pendulum gear 69 Roller 70 Holder 71 Cap 72 Arm 73 Tube 74 Pressurizing spring 75 Base 82 Discharge port 83 Liquid chamber 85 Electrothermal transducer for discharging ink 86 Electrothermal transducer for maintaining ink 101 Information storage means (of recording apparatus) 102 Temperature detecting means (of recording apparatus) 103 Time counting means 402 Resin molding section 405 Spring member 406 Wiring board 407 Discharge port array 408 Information storage means (for printhead) 409 Temperature detection means (for printhead) 501 Information storage means 502 Temperature detection means 503 Information read / write means 504 Control means 505 Driving condition table 506 Driving condition table for electrothermal transducer for ink ejection 507 Ink jet head driving means 508 Time counting means 509 Temperature detecting means M Drive motor P Recording medium (recording paper etc.)

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] January 25, 2002 (2002.1.2
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 18

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA14 EA16 EA27 EB07 EB20 EB30 EB38 EB44 EB59 EC07 EC23 EC24 EC26 EC29 EC32 EC39 EC41 EC42 EC54 EC55 EC57 FA03 HA15 JB04 JB09 JB10 JC20 JC21 JC23

Claims (38)

[Claims] 1. A carriage for mounting and moving a recording head that performs recording by discharging recording ink, and a recovery unit that performs a recovery operation on the recording head,
An ink jet recording apparatus which is shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from a recording ink is mounted on the carriage, wherein the apparatus user uses the recording apparatus for the first time. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the arrival recovery mode performed by the recovery unit is different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery unit after the first use. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising a suction unit configured to perform suction from the recording head as the recovery unit, and to reduce a suction pressure when the suction unit suctions ink from the recording head in the arrival recovery mode. 2. The suction pressure is set higher than the suction pressure at the time.
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The ink supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a suction unit configured to perform suction from the recording head as the recovery unit, and to determine a suction amount of the ink from the recording head by the suction unit in the arrival recovery mode. 2. The suction amount is set to be larger than the suction amount at the time.
Or the inkjet recording apparatus according to 2. 4. A suction unit for performing suction from the recording head as the recovery unit, wherein the number of times of suction by the suction unit in the arrival recovery mode when suctioning ink from the recording head is determined by the ink suction in the normal recovery mode. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the number is set to be greater than the number of times of suction. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrival recovery mode is a mode in which one type of recovery operation in the normal recovery mode is continuously performed a plurality of times. 6. A suction means for sucking from the recording head as the recovery means, and in the loading recovery mode, the inside of the cap is communicated with the atmosphere when ink is sucked from the recording head by the suction means, and the suction means is provided. 6. The number of idle suctions for discharging ink in the cap to the outside of the cap by operating the number of idle suctions is set to be greater than the number of idle suctions in the normal recovery mode. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. A recovery device, comprising: a suction device for performing suction from the recording head; and a wiper for performing wiping on the recording head, wherein in the arrival recovery mode, after the ink is suctioned from the recording head by the suction device. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times of wiping by the wiper is set to be greater than the number of times of wiping after ink suction in the normal recovery mode. 8. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a wiper for wiping the recording head and a cleaner for cleaning the wiper as the recovery unit, wherein the number of times of cleaning by the cleaner after wiping by the wiper in the arrival recovery mode is set to The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the number is set to be larger than the number of times of cleaning after wiping in the normal recovery mode. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recovery unit includes a suction unit that performs suction from the recording head and a wiper that performs wiping on the recording head. In the arrival recovery mode, first, ink suction from the recording head by the suction unit is performed. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping is performed by the wiper after the wiping is performed. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution ink has a higher viscosity than the recording ink. 11. The recording ink according to claim 1, wherein the recording ink contains a coloring material, and the physical distribution ink contains no coloring material or has less coloring material components than the recording ink. Ink jet recording device. 12. A logistics system different from the recording ink, comprising a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink, and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus which is shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with ink for use is mounted on the carriage, and which is executed by the recovery unit when the apparatus user uses the recording apparatus for the first time. Ink jet recording, wherein the arrival recovery mode is the same as the recovery mode performed when the recording head is replaced, from among a plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery means after the first use. apparatus. 13. A carriage for mounting and moving a recording head that performs recording by discharging recording ink, and a mounting portion for mounting an ink tank that stores recording ink supplied to the recording head. An inkjet recording apparatus which is shipped from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage, wherein the ink tank is provided at the mounting portion. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the ink tank is mounted, and detecting that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting portion at the time of the first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user. And a warning unit for issuing a warning to a user. 14. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising an ink discharge electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy used for discharging the ink.
14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 13. 15. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein ink is ejected by utilizing a pressure change based on bubble growth due to film boiling caused by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. . 16. The distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal converter for keeping the ink in the recording head during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1-1
6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 5. 17. The distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal transducer for discharging ink in the recording head during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1-1
6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 5. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein the ink is stored in the recording head by an electrothermal converter for keeping the ink warm and an electrothermal converter for discharging the ink before or during the suction of the ink by the suction unit in the arrival recovery mode. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is heated. 19. The distribution ink is ejected by an electrothermal transducer for ejecting ink in the recording head during or before ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1-1
6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 5. 20. An ink-heating electrothermal transducer for heating the physical distribution ink by an ink-heating electrothermal transducer in the recording head during ink suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the ink for distribution is ejected by the following method. 21. The distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal transducer for keeping the ink in the recording head between before the suction of the ink by the suction unit and the end of the suction in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1 to 15
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 22. The distribution ink is heated by an electrothermal transducer for discharging ink in the recording head between before and after the suction by the suction means in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1 to 15
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 23. An ink-holding electrothermal converter and an ink discharging electrothermal converter in the recording head between the time before ink suction by the suction means and the time when suction is completed in the arrival recovery mode. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is heated. 24. The distribution ink is ejected by an electrothermal transducer for ejecting ink in the recording head during a period from before the ink is sucked by the suction unit to the end of the suction in the arrival recovery mode. Items 1 to 15
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 25. In the arrival recovery mode, between the time before ink suction by the suction means and the time when suction is completed, the distribution ink is heated by an ink heat-holding electrothermal transducer in the recording head, and the ink discharge electricity is discharged. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the physical distribution ink is discharged by a heat converter. 26. An input signal when the distribution ink is heated and ejected by the ink ejection electrothermal transducer in the recording head between the time before ink suction by the suction means and the time when suction is completed in the arrival recovery mode. Value, frequency,
An ink color and a discharge port to be input as a signal can be arbitrarily selected, and an arbitrary input signal value, a frequency, and an ink color can be input to an electrothermal transducer for keeping the ink of the recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25. 27. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a time counting means for counting an elapsed time from the time of shipment.
27. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 26. 28. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a time reading means for reading an elapsed time from the time of shipment.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 29. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for judging and determining a heating amount of the recording head based on an elapsed time from shipping. 30. A temperature history storage means for storing a temperature history from the time of shipment.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 31. A temperature history reading means for reading a temperature history from the time of shipment.
30. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 30. 32. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating control means for judging and determining a heating amount of said recording head based on a temperature history from the time of shipment. 33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating control means can set a heating temperature for each ink color.
33. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of to 32. 34. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means capable of rewriting and recalling the elapsed time and temperature history from the time of shipment. 35. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the viscosity of the distribution ink is higher than the viscosity of the recording ink. 36. A method for handling an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink; and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. Shipping the inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with the distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage; and a first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user. Sometimes causing the recording head to execute an arrival recovery mode different from the normal recovery mode performed by the recovery unit after the first use. Method of handling an ink jet recording apparatus. 37. A method for handling an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a carriage for mounting and moving a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording ink; and recovery means for performing a recovery operation on the recording head. Shipping the inkjet recording apparatus from a production factory with the recording head filled with the distribution ink different from the recording ink mounted on the carriage; and a first use of the recording apparatus by the apparatus user. Sometimes, of the plurality of types of recovery modes performed by the recovery unit after the first use, the same recovery mode as the recovery mode performed when the recording head is replaced is performed by the recovery unit. A method for handling an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising the steps of: 38. A carriage for mounting and moving a recording head that performs recording by discharging recording ink, and a mounting portion for mounting an ink tank that stores recording ink supplied to the recording head. A method of handling an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a step of shipping an ink jet recording apparatus from a production factory in a state where the recording head filled with a distribution ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage. Issuing a warning to the device user when it is detected that the ink tank is not mounted on the mounting portion during the first use of the recording device by the device user. How to handle an inkjet recording device.